stare into those soulless eyes and determine what I’m up against. But it’s too risky now. I won’t bring unnecessary attention to myself by greeting these assholes before I’m summoned.
Below the radar is where I fly.
I silently inch back into the living room, prepared to remain in hiding until I can make an escape to find my sisters, when the face-less man glances over his shoulder.
I pause.
Freeze.
I hold my breath as his face comes into view. The deep scowl. The tight-pressed lips. The aura of a brutal man filled with darkness. And as his intense eyes narrow precisely on mine, his harsh attention fills me with dread.
2
Penny
I hold his gaze as his brows pull deeper, the slight flare of his nostrils increasing my fear.
He’s angered at the sight of me. Furious.
I fight all the instincts screaming at me to run and begin to breathe again when he turns away, continuing around the corner, the door to the outside entertaining area closing moments later.
“Oh, God.” I collapse against the wall, sucking in gulps of air.
Each blink brings back a memory of hard eyes and an even harder scowl. Like every other man to walk through the front doors, Cole’s companion didn’t have an ounce of pity for my situation.
There was no surprise. No concern.
But there wasn’t a taunting smirk either. His expression didn’t hold the conniving prelude I’ve witnessed from the vilest of Luther’s guests.
The patter of small feet rushes down the hall, forcing me to put my game face on right before Tobias runs into the room and skitters to a stop before me. His eyes are big as saucers, his inhales rampant.
“He’s here… my brother.” He waves a hand for me to hurry. “You need to come meet him.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No.” He shakes his head as Abi, Nina, and Chloe come to stand in the doorway behind him. “Dad wants to see you now.”
“Toby, I said I’ll be there in a minute. I just need to do something first.” I have to claim a moment to gain my composure. I can’t face a pack of wolves unless I’m in control.
He frowns, his annoyance beyond clear. “But Penny—”
“I need to put on my shoes. Is that okay?”
His stern expression remains in place, yet those innocent eyes lose their anger. He’s torn. Nothing is more important than pleasing his father, but he hates upsetting me, too.
“Hurry.” He turns on his heel to walk between Abi and Nina. “Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.”
My sisters look at me, their expressions questioning.
“Play it safe,” I whisper. “Nod and agree with everything they say. Don’t retaliate to anything. Don’t smile. Don’t talk unless spoken to.”
Abi and Nina nod.
“Did you see him?” Chloe asks. “What does he look like?”
“It doesn’t matter. Be smart and you’ll be okay.”
“Hurry up,” Tobias calls from down the hall.
I sigh. “You heard the little Nazi. Go. Get the introduction over and done with. I’ll be out there soon.”
They follow my instruction, leaving me alone to suck in deep lungfuls of air, the oxygen taking long moments to settle me into some semblance of control.
I tiptoe into the hall, clinging to my shoes as I measure a calm stride past the rooms with an armed guard. I run once I’m out of sight until I reach the other side of the house, closing in on the window closest to the outdoor dining setting.
The male voices are almost decipherable from here, the chitchat easily heard over the soft whir of the mist fan.
I want to know what they’re here for. If their taste in perversion is more sinister than we’re used to I need to prepare myself and everyone else, too.
I inch aside the curtain, chancing another peek.
Luther, Cole, and the man with the harsh stare all sit on the expensive furniture. I can’t clearly see their faces, only the back of Luther’s head and two stony profiles. But the heir to this lawless empire is still unmistakable.
Cole sits with the same confidence as his father—his shoulders strong, the tilt of his chin arrogantly high. The other man is more laid-back, his demeanor now entirely casual as he talks to Luther about the necessity for regular servicing of sex slaves.
His words chill my veins.
I was right. This man is heartless. Soulless.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Chris growls.
I drop the curtain and swing around to face him entering the dining room. “I was checking to see how many guests we have.” I straighten to my full height and